Valerosos y Curiosos HSI STEM Grant
Purpose
Concordia University Irvine is a private Christian university in Irvine, CA, with over 2,500 students across various programs. Its six schools offer a range of majors, including STEM fields. However, Hispanic and low-income students in STEM face challenges with retention and graduation rates due to limited exposure to university services. To address this, Concordia University Irvine's Valerosos y Curiosos project aims to support these students through a STEM Scholars Program. This program includes academic support, mentoring, and research opportunities, along with faculty and staff training to foster a sense of belonging. The project's goals include increasing enrollment, transfer rates, retention, and graduation rates for Hispanic and low-income STEM students. Concordia University Irvine seeks $3,000,000 over five years to fund this initiative, which aligns with priority areas for student support and postsecondary education access.